You’d never guess that this luxuriously creamy Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing is good for you! Easy to make with Greek yogurt, oil, lemon, and herbs, its rich yet refreshing flavors will jazz up your salads, grain bowls, vegetables, meats, and more.
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For more creamy sauces made with yogurt, check out my Easy Cucumber Raita, Greek Yogurt Onion Dip, and Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip recipes while you’re here.
You don’t need julienned vegetables, radish roses, or the finest salad greens to step up your salad game. All you need is a really great dressing!
Ditch the store-bought salad dressing for this easy and creamy homemade Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing. Using a short list of fresh and pantry staple ingredients, this salad dressing comes together in no time. Enjoy its tangy and herbaceous flavors on salads and grain bowls, in your favorite sandwiches and wraps, and much more.
Why you’ll love it
Greek yogurt is the star of this creamy dressing. While other recipes use mayonnaise or sour cream, yogurt is much lighter, has a tangy flavor, and is a great source of protein, gut-healthy probiotics, and B vitamins. And even though it’s good for you, it gives the dressing the most divine, creamy consistency.
In addition to the yogurt, this dressing quickly comes together using a flavorful blend of olive oil, garlic, herbs, lemon, and dijon. Just a drizzle adds pizazz to all kinds of salads, like my Vegan Farro Salad and Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, and so many more dishes.
Ingredients
- Plain Greek yogurt – Many creamy salad dressing recipes are made with a base of mayo or sour cream. I prefer to use Greek yogurt because it’s just as rich, creamy, and tangy but has a delightfully light consistency.
- Olive oil – A small amount of good-quality olive oil adds richness and helps emulsify the dressing.
- Garlic cloves
- Dill – Fresh dill is best, but dried dill works in a pinch.
- Lemon juice and zest
- Dijon mustard – Adds a sharp, tangy dimension and acts as an emulsifier, creating a smoother, more cohesive dressing.
- Salt and pepper
How to make salad dressing with Greek yogurt
Simply whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl or place the ingredients in a mason jar with a tight-fitted lid and shake vigorously to combine. That’s it!
Drizzle the dressing over your favorite salad right away or store it in the fridge for later.
Tips and tricks
- Slowly incorporate the olive oil into the dressing, whisking continuously, to create that perfect emulsion and silky consistency.
- Always taste the dressing before serving. Add extra lemon for tang, salt to bring all of the flavors together, or dill to give it a vibrant and refreshing pop.
- Do you have time to spare? Let your yogurt salad dressing hang out in the fridge for about an hour before serving. This gives the flavors a chance to meld and mingle.
Variations
- Dairy free – Use thick Greek-style non-dairy yogurt instead of the regular stuff to make dairy free yogurt salad dressing.
- Mediterranean mix-ins – Fold chopped kalamata olives, diced cucumber, and/or a sprinkle of oregano or mint into the dressing to upgrade it with Mediterranean flavors.
- Roast the garlic – Enhance the garlicky goodness by roasting the garlic cloves before mashing and adding them to the Greek yogurt salad dressing.
- Add avocado – Swap some Greek yogurt with mashed avocado for an extra velvety texture and a nutritional boost.
Serving suggestions
This dressing is obviously a perfect match for fresh salads, but it’s especially great on a classic Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese. Feel free to use it on any of these salads and more:
- Lebanese Cabbage Salad
- Chicken Cobb Salad
- Israeli Couscous Tabbouleh Salad
- Mediterranean Tuna Chickpea Salad
- Healthy Wedge Salad
- Kale Caesar Salad
I’ll also whip it together when I’m craving something creamy in my Chicken Gyro Quinoa Bowl, Greek Lamb Orzo Bowl, and these Greek Lamb Lettuce Wraps.
Ending up with leftover dressing is also a blessing in disguise because there are so many ways to put it to use:
- Serve the dressing as a creamy dip with fresh veggies and pita chips.
- Spread it on sandwiches or vegetable wraps.
- Serve it on a mezze platter along with hummus and baba ganoush.
- Use it as a creamy marinade for grilled chicken.
- Drizzle it in a bowl of cucumber soup.
- Use it as a topping on Greek nachos.
FAQs
No, you don’t have to. Feel free to use regular yogurt or sour cream instead of Greek yogurt. And because regular yogurt isn’t as thick or tangy as Greek yogurt, try to use a full-fat yogurt/sour cream to yield luxurious results.
Yogurt dressing is typically considered a healthier alternative to regular dressing because it often has fewer calories and less fat. Plus, you get the bonus of probiotics and protein from Greek yogurt.
One method you can try is straining the yogurt through a cheesecloth to give it a thicker consistency (known as labneh). Alternatively, try adding an extra scoop of yogurt or swapping it for mayo or sour cream to make it creamier and thicker.
Salad dressing made with Greek yogurt stores well in the fridge for up to one week. Just keep it in an airtight container to keep it fresh and creamy.
More greek yogurt recipes
- Greek Yogurt Coffee Cake
- Greek Yogurt Onion Dip
- Tahini Yogurt Sauce
- Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
- Salted Caramel Yogurt Popsicles
- Greek Yogurt Bowls
- More → 45+ ways to use Greek yogurt!
More salad dressing recipes
- Lemon Pesto Salad Dressing
- Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Spicy Arugula Salad Dressing
- Restaurant Style Ranch Dressing
- Steakhouse Blue Cheese Dressing
Did you make this Greek yogurt dressing?
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Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced or grated)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh dill (or 1 TBSP dried dill, minced)
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Enjoy over your favorite salad, grain bowl, etc.
